Definitions

debt

[det] / dɛt /

NOUN

money owed to others

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arrears bill capital commitment credit damage deficit due indebtedness liability mortgage obligation price tag receipt

STRONG

IOU albatross baggage bite check chit claim cuff debenture debit dues duty encumbrance invoice manifest note reckoning responsibility score tab tally voucher

WEAK

arrearage bad news below the line dead horse in hock in the hole in the red outstandings promissory note red ink

Antonyms

STRONG

irresponsibility

WEAK

asset cash excess profit

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Average debt per borrower is more than $6,000 when including small loans from microfinance lenders that are now commercial banks also providing other financial services.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Zlatkin says there is still homebuyer interest but many Canadians remain hesitant to move forward while mortgage rates remain high and economic uncertainty makes taking on new debt harder.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

The U.S. government uses debt to finance some of this growth.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Tech hyperscalers are increasingly turning toward debt and equity financing to support the capital needs of the AI buildout.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

I had never released anyone from a debt of this magnitude before, and it took me a moment to get the words out.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Vocabulary lists containing debt

Material World: Shopping Lingo

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The Great Depression and The New Deal

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Economics

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